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Nov 25, 2021 · A list of the best music documentaries ever made, from rock to jazz to punk, featuring iconic artists and bands. Learn about the history, culture and impact of music through these films, from U2: Rattle and Hum to The Wrecking Crew.
Apr 27, 2023 · A list of essential films about musicians, from pop, rock, jazz, country, and more. Discover the stories behind the songs, the artists, and the scenes that shaped popular music history.
- Contributor
- Noel Murray
- 8 min
- Tim Peacock
- 2 min
- Gimme Shelter (1970) Often seen to mirror the death of the idealistic 60s, the free concert The Rolling Stones performed at California’s Altamont Speedway in December 1969 was tagged onto the end of their triumphant US tour and intended as a celebratory night out for fans.
- Elvis: That’s The Way It Is (1970) The critically hailed ’68 Comeback Special arguably reintroduced Elvis Presley to a serious rock’n’roll audience, but director Denis Sanders’ Elvis: That’s The Way It Is was The King’s first non-dramatic movie since his film career began in 1956.
- Amazing Grace (1972) Sydney Pollack’s Aretha Franklin concert film, Amazing Grace, was captured in 1972, but ended up languishing in the vaults owing to various technical and legal issues.
- Cracked Actor (1974) Ziggy acolytes have DA Pennebaker’s concert film Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, but Alan Yentob’s BBC-sponsored documentary Cracked Actor is equally mandatory.
These documentaries about BLACKPINK, Taylor Swift, Beyonce and more give you the best seat in the house. Hit play and rock out to these films from your front row seat.
- 17 sec
- 20 Feet From Stardom (2013) Those backing singers often have just as rollercoaster lives as the star they’re harmonising with, as Morgan Neville’s acclaimed film explores.
- 20,000 Days On Earth (2014) Picking up two awards at 2014’s Sundance festival, Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard’s 20,000 Days On Earth depicted a fictitious day in the life of Nick Cave as he worked on 2013’s ‘Push The Sky Away’.
- A Band Called Death (2012) Punk could have come around a little sooner if David Hackney, prime mover of a trio of Detroit rock brothers credited with being one of the first bands of the genre, had given in to label pressures to change the name of his band to something more commercial than Death.
- Amazing Grace (2018) Filmed by Sydney Pollack in 1972 but gathering dust on the shelf until three months after her death in 2018, Aretha Franklin’s live recordings for her gospel album ‘Amazing Grace’ – shot over two nights in a church in LA – caught a heaven-sent voice at its most powerful and impassioned.
Aug 25, 2023 · Explore 29 must-watch music docs featuring live performances, artist portraits, and behind-the-scenes drama. From Beyoncé to the Beastie Boys, these films capture the essence and personalities of musical acts and movements.
Aug 14, 2023 · Streaming service Netflix offers a variety of music documentaries, from Beyoncé's Homecoming to Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool. Whether you're a fan of pop, rock, jazz, or country, you'll find something to enjoy and learn from this list.
